Saturday, November 20, 2010

Thoat

“How can earthly words describe it! It towered ten feet at the shoulder; had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, larger at the tip then at the root, and which it held straight out when running; a gaping mouth which split its head from its snout to its long massive neck. “Like its master it was entirely devoid of hair, but was of a dark slate color and exceeding smooth and glossy. Its belly was white and its legs shaded from the slate of its shoulders and hips to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves were heavily padded and nailless, which fact also contributed to the noiseless of their approach, and, in common with a multiplicity of legs, is a characteristic feature of the fauna of Mars. . .and there are absolutely no hoofed animals in existence.” (PM, III)

“These creatures, which are known as thoats, are as dangerous and vicious as their masters, but when once subdued are sufficiently tractable for the purposes of the green Martians. Two of these animals had fallen to me from the warriors whose metal I wore, and in a short time I could handle them quite as well as the native warriors. The method was not at all complicated. If the thoats did not respond with sufficient celerity to the telepathic instructions of their riders they were dealt a terrific blow between the ears with the butt of a pistol, and if they showed fight this treatment was continued until the brutes either were subdued, or had unseated their riders. “In the latter case it became a life and death struggle between the man and the beast. If the former were quick enough with his pistol he might live to ride again, though upon some other beast; if not, his torn and mangled body was gathered up by his women and burned in accordance with Tharkian custom." (PM, XIII)

The Barsoomian mount is controlled by a wonderful telepathic/ empathic link without bit and bridle. The domesticated thoat of the red Martian is smaller (4hd, 1d6 damage, +3 Fort,, 2 Will, 12”) and has a much gentler temperament then those ridden by the green Martian warrior.

'Jasoom' is the title given to our Earth by the Martians of Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels.

This blog serves as a forum to discuss CLASSIC pen-n-paper, role playing games. Featured herein are pages from the author's pnp game written and copyrighted in 1990. RED PLANET was based upon ERB's Barsoom novels that are now within the Public Domain . . .

PM = A Princess of MarsGM = The Gods of MarsWM = The Warlord of MarsTMM = Thuvia, Maid of MarsCM = The Chessmen of MarsMM = Mastermind of Mars

This blog is a product of fan fiction. Most artwork on this site is the sole property of the respective artist or copyright holder and reproduced here out of admiration or respect. Much of this art work and more is available at Damon Orellz excellent blog, The ART of BARSOOM. If your artwork appears on this site, and you want it taken down, send me a comment.

About Me

“I know that you are interested and that you believe, and I know that the world, too, is interested, though they will not believe for many years; yes, for many ages, since they cannot understand. Earth men have not yet progressed to a point where they can comprehend the things that I have written.”
Forward to The Gods of Mars by E.R.B.